Our ongoing Profiles in Practice podcast series continues with Judy Tso, a practicing anthropologist and owner of Aha Solutions in Maryland. After acquiring her bachelors at UPenn’s Wharton School and working for eight years, Judy acquired a masters in Applied Anthropology at the University of Maryland. She describes what led her to study anthropology and how she was able to marry her interests in social justice and culture with her business background by transitioning into diversity consulting and training. Her interview provides insights into networking at conferences, shifting careers, becoming a consultant, and the importance of being creative and versatile in today’s marketplace. Tso also describes the skills that anthropologists have (or don’t know they have) and how students can articulate and market them.

In February 2007, the Practicing Anthropology Working Group (PAWG) launched a “Profiles in Practice” column in Anthropology News that highlighted anthropologists working outside of academia. PAWG soon transformed into the more permanent AAA Committee of Practicing, Applied and Public Interest Anthropology (CoPAPIA), which reimagined its Anthropology News column under the new title “Anthropology Works” in September 2008.

CoPAPIA is now building upon past Profiles in Practice columns with an online interview series geared towards students interested in anthropology but uncertain about career paths that await them after graduation. The series is hosted by Ruth Sando, owner of Sando and Associates, who is a practicing anthropologist and former board member of the Washington Association of Professional Anthropologists.